Place:Monmouthshire, Wales

NameMonmouthshire
Alt namesMonmouthsource: Webster's Geographical Dictionary (1984)
Sir Fynwysource: Wikipedia
TypeHistoric county
Coordinates51.833°N 2.75°W
Located inWales     ( - 1974)
Also located inEngland    
See alsoGwent, Walescounty formed in 1974 which replaced historic Monmouthshire
Contained Places
Borough (county)
Newport ( - 1974 )
Borough (municipal)
Abergavenny ( - 1974 )
Monmouth ( - 1974 )
Cemetery
Castell y Bwch ( - 1997 )
Coed Aughred
Gilwern Cemetery ( 1974 - )
Pontypool Cemetery ( - 1996 )
Tintern Abbey
Chapelry
Bettws Newydd ( - 1974 )
Chapel Hill ( - 1974 )
Clytha ( - 1974 )
Cwmcarvan ( - 1974 )
Devauden ( - 1974 )
Dingestow ( - 1974 )
Howick ( - 1935 )
Ifton ( - 1935 )
Itton ( - 1935 )
Kemeys Commander ( - 1974 )
Llanfihangel nigh Usk ( - 1974 )
Llangua ( - 1974 )
Llanllowell ( - 1974 )
Llansaintfraed ( - 1974 )
Llansoy ( - 1974 )
Monkswood ( - 1974 )
Newchurch ( - 1974 )
Redwick ( - 1974 )
St. Kingsmark ( - 1920 )
St. Pierre ( - 1894 )
Wonastow ( - 1974 )
Civil parish
Abercarn ( - 1974 )
Abergavenny Rural (parish) ( 1894 - 1974 )
Abergavenny Urban (parish) ( 1894 - 1974 )
Abergavenny ( - 1974 )
Abersychan ( - 1974 )
Abertillery ( - 1974 )
Aberystruth ( - 1974 )
Bedwas ( - 1974 )
Bedwelty ( - 1974 )
Bettws Newydd ( - 1974 )
Bettws ( - 1974 )
Bishton ( - 1974 )
Blaenavon ( - 1974 )
Bryngwyn ( - 1974 )
Bwlch Trewyn ( 1844 - 1974 )
Caer Went ( - 1935 )
Caerleon ( - 1974 )
Caerwent ( - 1974 )
Caldicot ( - 1974 )
Chapel Hill ( - 1974 )
Chepstow ( - 1974 )
Christchurch ( - 1974 )
Clytha ( - 1974 )
Coedkernew ( - 1974 )
Crucornau Fawr ( 1935 - 1974 )
Cwmbran ( - 1974 )
Cwmcarvan ( - 1974 )
Cwmyoy ( 1866 - 1974 )
Devauden ( - 1974 )
Dingestow ( - 1974 )
Dinham ( - 1935 )
Dixton ( - 1974 )
Duffryn ( - 1974 )
Ebbw Vale ( - 1974 )
Fwthog ( 1891 - 1974 )
Goldcliff ( - 1974 )
Goytrey
Grace Dieu ( - 1935 )
Graig ( - 1974 )
Griffithstown ( - 1974 )
Grosmont Fawr ( 1935 - 1974 )
Grosmont ( - 1974 )
Gwehellog ( - 1974 )
Gwernesney ( - 1974 )
Henllys ( - 1974 )
Howick ( - 1935 )
Ifton ( - 1935 )
Itton ( - 1935 )
Kemeys Commander ( - 1974 )
Kemeys Inferior ( - 1974 )
Kilgwrrwg ( - 1974 )
Langstone ( - 1974 )
Llanarth Fawr ( 1935 - 1974 )
Llanarth ( - 1935 )
Llanbaddock ( - 1974 )
Llanddewi Skirrid ( - 1974 )
Llandegveth ( - 1974 )
Llandenny ( - 1974 )
Llandogo ( - 1974 )
Llanellen ( - 1974 )
Llanfair Kilgeddin ( - 1974 )
Llanfihangel Llantarnam ( 1894 - 1935 )
Llanfihangel nigh Usk ( - 1974 )
Llanfoist Fawr ( 1935 - 1974 )
Llanfoist
Llanfrechfa Lower ( - 1974 )
Llanfrechfa Upper ( - 1974 )
Llanfrechfa ( - 1974 )
Llangattock Llingoed ( - 1974 )
Llangattock Vibon Avel ( - 1974 )
Llangattock nigh Usk ( - 1974 )
Llangattock ( - 1997 )
Llangeview ( - 1974 )
Llangibby ( - 1974 )
Llangoven
Llangua ( - 1974 )
Llangwm Isaf ( 1894 - 1935 )
Llangwm Uchaf ( 1894 - 1935 )
Llangwm ( - 1974 )
Llanhennock ( - 1974 )
Llanhiddel ( - 1974 )
Llanishen ( - 1974 )
Llanllowell ( - 1974 )
Llanmartin ( - 1974 )
Llanover Fawr ( 1935 - 1974 )
Llanover ( - 1974 )
Llansaintfraed ( - 1974 )
Llansoy ( - 1974 )
Llanthewy Rytherch ( - 1935 )
Llanthewy Vach ( - 1974 )
Llantilio Pertholey ( - 1974 )
Llantrissent ( - 1974 )
Llanvaches ( - 1974 )
Llanvair Discoed ( - 1935 )
Llanvapley ( - 1974 )
Llanvetherine ( - 1974 )
Llanvihangel Crucorney ( - 1935 )
Llanvihangel Pont y Moile ( - 1974 )
Llanvihangel Tor y Mynydd ( - 1974 )
Llanvihangel Ystern Llewern ( - 1972 )
Llanvihangel near Roggiett ( - 1974 )
Llanwenarth ( - 1974 )
Llanwern ( - 1974 )
Lower Cwmyoy ( 1866 - 1974 )
Machen ( - 1974 )
Magor ( - 1974 )
Malpas ( - 1974 )
Mamhilad ( - 1974 )
Marshfield ( - 1974 )
Mathern and St. Pierre ( 1984 - 1935 )
Mathern ( - 1974 )
Michaelstone y Fedw ( - 1974 )
Mitchel Troy ( - 1974 )
Monkswood ( - 1974 )
Monmouth ( - 1974 )
Mounton ( - 1974 )
Mynyddyslwyn ( - 1974 )
Nash ( - 1974 )
New Tredegar ( - 1974 )
Newchurch East ( 1881 - 1935 )
Newchurch West ( 1881 - 1935 )
Newport ( - 1974 )
Oldcastle ( - 1974 )
Panteg ( - 1974 )
Penalth ( - 1974 )
Penhow ( - 1974 )
Penrhos ( - 1974 )
Penterry ( - 1974 )
Penyclawdd ( - 1974 )
Peterstone Wentlloog ( - 1974 )
Pontypool ( - 1974 )
Portskewett ( - 1974 )
Raglan ( - 1974 )
Redwick ( - 1974 )
Rhymney ( - 1974 )
Risca ( - 1996 )
Rockfield ( - 1974 )
Rogerstone ( - 1974 )
Roggiett ( - 1935 )
Rogiet ( 1935 - 1974 )
Rumney ( - 1938 )
Shirenewton ( - 1974 )
Skenfrith ( - 1974 )
St. Arvans ( - 1974 )
St. Brides Netherwent ( - 1974 )
St. Brides Wentlloog ( - 1974 )
St. Kingsmark ( - 1920 )
St. Maughans ( - 1974 )
St. Mellons ( - 1974 )
St. Pierre ( - 1894 )
St. Woollos ( - 1974 )
Tintern Parva ( - 1935 )
Tredegar ( - 1974 )
Tredunnock ( - 1974 )
Tregare ( - 1974 )
Trelleck Grange ( - 1974 )
Trelleck ( - 1974 )
Trevethin ( - 1974 )
Trostrey
Undy ( - 1974 )
Upper Cwmyoy ( 1866 - 1974 )
Usk ( - 1974 )
Wilerick ( - 1974 )
Witson ( - 1974 )
Wolvesnewton
Wonastow ( - 1974 )
Deserted settlement
St. Brides Netherwent ( - 1974 )
Extra parochial area
Grace Dieu ( - 1935 )
Howick ( - 1935 )
Monkswood ( - 1974 )
Hamlet
Bwlch Trewyn ( 1844 - 1974 )
Castleton ( - 1974 )
Craig y Master
Dinham ( - 1935 )
Dixton ( - 1974 )
Fforest
Fwthog ( 1891 - 1974 )
Graig ( - 1974 )
Hengwrt
Howick ( - 1935 )
Llanwenarth ( - 1974 )
Tintern Parva ( - 1935 )
Trelleck Grange ( - 1974 )
Hundred
Abergavenny Hundred
Abergavenny Lordship
Caldicot Hundred
Caldicot Lordship
Edeligion Commute
Grosmont Lordship
Gwynllwg Commute
Is Coed Commute
Llebenydd Commute
Monmouth Lordship
Newton Lordship
Rhaglan Hundred
Skenfrith Hundred
Strigoil Lordship
Tre Grug Lordship
Tryleg Lordship
Usk Hundred
Usk Lordship
Wentloog Hundred
Inhabited place
Aberbargoed ( - 1974 )
Aberbargoed ( - 1974 )
Beaufort ( 1889 - 1974 )
Bettws ( - 1974 )
Blackwood ( - 1974 )
Blackwood ( - 1974 )
Brynmawr ( - 1974 )
Cefnycrib ( - 1996 )
Coedkernew ( - 1974 )
Crosskeys ( - 1974 )
Crosskeys ( - 1974 )
Crumlin ( - 1996 )
Dukestown ( 1889 - 1974 )
Gaer ( - 1974 )
Gellygroes ( - 1974 )
Gilwern
Glascoed
Liswerry ( - 1974 )
Llandgveth
Llanrumney ( - 1938 )
Llantilio Pertholey ( - 1974 )
Llantillio Crossenny ( - 1974 )
Llantrisant
Llechryd ( 1889 - 1974 )
Malpas ( - 1974 )
May Hill
Monnow Over
Nant y Glo ( - 1974 )
Newbridge ( - 1974 )
Newport ( - 1974 )
Pandy
Perthir
Pont Llanfraith ( - 1974 )
Pontnewydd ( - 1974 )
Pontrhydyrn ( - 1974 )
Pontymoyle ( - 1974 )
Pontywain ( - 1974 )
Rassau ( 1889 - 1974 )
Trinant ( - 1974 )
Trosnant ( - 1974 )
Wentsland ( - 1974 )
Whitebrook
Parish
Cwm Tillery ( - 1974 )
Cwmcillyn
Llanvihangel Roggiett
Mamhole ( - 1974 )
St. Arvans Grange ( - 1935 )
Whitechurch
Parish (ancient)
Abergavenny Urban (parish) ( 1894 - 1974 )
Abergavenny ( - 1974 )
Abersychan ( - 1974 )
Aberystruth ( - 1974 )
Babell
Bassaleg ( - 1974 )
Bedwas ( - 1974 )
Bedwelty ( - 1974 )
Bettws Newydd ( - 1974 )
Bettws ( - 1974 )
Bishton ( - 1974 )
Bryngwyn ( - 1974 )
Caer Went ( - 1935 )
Caldicot ( - 1974 )
Chapel Hill ( - 1974 )
Chepstow ( - 1974 )
Christchurch ( - 1974 )
Coedkernew ( - 1974 )
Cwmcarvan ( - 1974 )
Cwmyoy ( 1866 - 1974 )
Dingestow ( - 1974 )
Dixton ( - 1974 )
Donewall
Goldcliff ( - 1974 )
Goytrey
Grace Dieu ( - 1935 )
Graig ( - 1974 )
Griffithstown ( - 1974 )
Grosmont ( - 1974 )
Gwehellog ( - 1974 )
Gwernesney ( - 1974 )
Henllys ( - 1974 )
Ifton ( - 1935 )
Itton ( - 1935 )
Kemeys Commander ( - 1974 )
Kemeys Inferior ( - 1974 )
Kilgwrrwg ( - 1974 )
Langstone ( - 1974 )
Llanarth ( - 1935 )
Llanbaddock ( - 1974 )
Llanddewi Skirrid ( - 1974 )
Llandegveth ( - 1974 )
Llandenny ( - 1974 )
Llandogo ( - 1974 )
Llanellen ( - 1974 )
Llanfair Kilgeddin ( - 1974 )
Llanfihangel nigh Usk ( - 1974 )
Llanfoist
Llanfrechfa ( - 1974 )
Llangattock Llingoed ( - 1974 )
Llangattock Vibon Avel ( - 1974 )
Llangattock nigh Usk ( - 1974 )
Llangattock ( - 1997 )
Llangeview ( - 1974 )
Llangibby ( - 1974 )
Llangoven
Llangwm ( - 1974 )
Llanhennock ( - 1974 )
Llanhiddel ( - 1974 )
Llanishen ( - 1974 )
Llanllowell ( - 1974 )
Llanmartin ( - 1974 )
Llanover ( - 1974 )
Llansaintfraed ( - 1974 )
Llansoy ( - 1974 )
Llanthewy Rytherch ( - 1935 )
Llanthewy Vach ( - 1974 )
Llantilio Pertholey ( - 1974 )
Llantrissent ( - 1974 )
Llanvaches ( - 1974 )
Llanvair Discoed ( - 1935 )
Llanvapley ( - 1974 )
Llanvetherine ( - 1974 )
Llanvihangel Crucorney ( - 1935 )
Llanvihangel Pont y Moile ( - 1974 )
Llanvihangel Tor y Mynydd ( - 1974 )
Llanvihangel Ystern Llewern ( - 1972 )
Llanvihangel near Roggiett ( - 1974 )
Llanwern ( - 1974 )
Llebenydd
Machen ( - 1974 )
Magor ( - 1974 )
Malpas ( - 1974 )
Mamhilad ( - 1974 )
Marshfield ( - 1974 )
Mathern ( - 1974 )
Michaelstone y Fedw ( - 1974 )
Mitchel Troy ( - 1974 )
Monmouth ( - 1974 )
Mounton ( - 1974 )
Mynyddyslwyn ( - 1974 )
Nash ( - 1974 )
Newchurch ( - 1974 )
Oldcastle ( - 1974 )
Panteg ( - 1974 )
Penalth ( - 1974 )
Penhow ( - 1974 )
Penrhos ( - 1974 )
Penterry ( - 1974 )
Penyclawdd ( - 1974 )
Peterstone Wentlloog ( - 1974 )
Portskewett ( - 1974 )
Raglan ( - 1974 )
Rhymney ( - 1974 )
Risca ( - 1996 )
Rockfield ( - 1974 )
Roggiett ( - 1935 )
Rumney ( - 1938 )
Shirenewton ( - 1974 )
Skenfrith ( - 1974 )
St. Arvans ( - 1974 )
St. Brides Netherwent ( - 1974 )
St. Brides Wentlloog ( - 1974 )
St. Maughans ( - 1974 )
St. Mellons ( - 1974 )
St. Pierre ( - 1894 )
St. Woollos ( - 1974 )
Tredunnock ( - 1974 )
Tregare ( - 1974 )
Trelleck Grange ( - 1974 )
Trelleck ( - 1974 )
Trevethin ( - 1974 )
Trostrey
Undy ( - 1974 )
Usk ( - 1974 )
Welsh Bicknor ( - 1974 )
Wilerick ( - 1974 )
Witson ( - 1974 )
Wolvesnewton
Wonastow ( - 1974 )
Parochial area
Llanfrechfa Lower ( - 1974 )
Llanfrechfa Upper ( - 1974 )
Lower Cwmyoy ( 1866 - 1974 )
Upper Cwmyoy ( 1866 - 1974 )
Registration district
Abergavenny Registration District ( 1837 - 1958 )
Bedwellty Registration District ( 1961 - 1974 )
Caerleon Registration District ( 1936 - 1974 )
Chepstow Registration District ( 1837 - )
Monmouth Registration District ( 1837 - )
Newport Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Pontypool Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Rural district
Abergavenny Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Chepstow Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Magor Rural ( 1894 - 1935 )
Magor and St. Mellons Rural ( 1935 - 1974 )
Monmouth Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Pontypool Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
St. Mellons Rural ( 1894 - 1935 )
Seat
Edlogan
Suburb
Bassaleg ( - 1974 )
Duffryn ( - 1974 )
Gaer ( - 1974 )
Township
Caerleon ( - 1974 )
Duffryn ( - 1974 )
Gwehellog ( - 1974 )
Llangwm Isaf ( 1894 - 1935 )
Llangwm Uchaf ( 1894 - 1935 )
Newport ( - 1974 )
Penrhos ( - 1974 )
Rogerstone ( - 1974 )
Unknown
Llanvihangel-nigh-Usk
Urban district
Abercarn Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Abersychan Urban District ( 1894 - 1935 )
Abertillery Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Bedwas and Machen Urban District ( 1912 - 1974 )
Bedwelty Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Blaenavon Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Caerleon Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Chepstow Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Cwmbran Urban District ( 1935 - 1974 )
Ebbw Vale Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Llanfrechfa Upper Urban District ( 1894 - 1935 )
Llantarnam Urban District ( 1894 - 1935 )
Mynyddyslwyn Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Nant y Glo and Blaina Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Panteg Urban District ( 1894 - 1935 )
Pontypool Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Rhymney Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Risca Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Tredegar Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
Usk Urban District ( 1894 - 1974 )
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog
Image:WalesMonmouthshireTrad.png :the following text is based on an article in Wikipedia

Monmouthshire, also known as the County of Monmouth, was one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county. Historic Monmouthshire was much larger than the present Monmouthshire (principal area) established in 1996. It ceased to exist in 1974.

It corresponded approximately to the present principal areas of Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, and Newport and those parts of Caerphilly and Cardiff east of the River Rhymney.

The eastern part of the county was mainly agricultural, while the western valleys had rich mineral resources. This led to the area becoming highly industrialised with coal mining and iron working being major employers from the 18th century to the late 20th century. The largest five towns of today which lay within the historic boundaries are Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny.

Monmouthshire's Welsh status was ambiguous between the 16th and 20th centuries, when it considered by some to be part of England. Its legal inclusion in Wales was clarified only by the Local Government Act 1972, the same act which abolished the county as an administrative area. (For further discussion on this topic, see the Wikipedia article, Monmouthshire (historic) under the heading "Ambiguity over status".)

Contents

Formation

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

The "county or shire of Monmouth" was formed from parts of the Welsh Marches by the Laws in Wales Act 1535. According to the Act the shire consisted of "all Honours, Lordships, Castles, Manors, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, lying or being within the Compass or Precinct of the following Lordships, Townships, Parishes, Commotes and Cantrefs... in the Country of Wales". The Act also designated Monmouth as the "Head and Shire town of the said county or shire of Monmouth", and ordered that the Sheriff's county or shire court be held alternately in Monmouth and Newport.

Historic boundaries and subdivisions

The historic boundaries are the River Wye on the east, dividing it from Gloucestershire and the River Rhymney to the west dividing it from Glamorganshire or Glamorgan, with the Bristol Channel to the south. The northern landward boundaries with Herefordshire and Breconshire (or Brecknockshire) were less well-defined. For instance, the parish of Welsh Bicknor, was an exclave of Monmouthshire, sandwiched between Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. The area was considered part of Monmouthshire until it was made part of Herefordshire "for all purposes" by the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844. On the other hand, the Herefordshire hamlet of Fwthog adjoining the Honddu Valley remained an exclave within Monmouthshire until 1891. (See Map of the hundreds of Monmouthshire by Thomas Moule, c. 1831 in Wikipedia)

In 1542 the county was divided into six hundreds:

At this time the county also contained the three ancient boroughs of Monmouth, Newport and Usk.

NOTE: Monmouthshire's Welsh status was ambiguous between the 16th and 20th centuries, with it considered by some to be part of England during this time; its legal inclusion in Wales was only clarified by the Local Government Act 1972, the same act which abolished the county as an administrative area.

Municipal reform within Monmouthshire

Monmouth and Newport were re-formed as municipal boroughs with elected town councils by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. Usk continued as an unreformed borough until its final abolition in 1886.

New forms of local government were established in the urban areas of the county with the setting of local boards under the Public Health Act 1848 and Local Government Act 1858. The Public Health Act 1875 divided the rural areas into rural sanitary districts.

An administrative county of Monmouthshire, governed by an elected county council, was formed in 1889 under the terms of the Local Government Act 1888. The administrative county had similar boundaries to those of the ancient county, but included the Beaufort, Dukestown, Llechryd and Rassau areas which had been in south Breconshire. The county council was now based in Newport, rather than the historic county town of Monmouth. In 1891 the borough of Newport achieved county borough status and therefore left the administrative county to govern itself independently, although the Shire Hall continued to be based there. In the same year the parish of Fwthog was transferred to both the administrative and geographic county of Monmouthshire.

Under the Local Government Act 1894 Monmouthshire was divided into urban and rural districts, following the boundaries of the existing sanitary districts.

In 1899 Abergavenny was incorporated as a [municipal] borough. Two further urban districts were formed, Mynyddislwyn in 1903, and Bedwas and Machen in 1912. The County of Monmouth Review Order 1935 revised the number and boundaries of the urban and rural districts in the administrative county. A new Cwmbran Urban District was formed by the abolition of Llanfrechfa Upper and Llantarnam Urban Districts, Abersychan and Panteg UDs were absorbed by Pontypool urban district, and Magor and St. Mellons Rural District was formed by a merger of the two individual rural districts.

The last major boundary change to affect the administrative and geographic county was in 1938 when the parish of Rumney was removed from Monmouthshire to be included in the County Borough of Cardiff, and, therefore, the geographic county of Glamorgan.

The administrative county of Monmouthshire and the County Borough of Newport were abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The successor authority, with minor boundary changes, was titled Gwent. Some border parishes became part of the new Rhymney Valley District of Mid Glamorgan and the Cardiff District of South Glamorgan. After 1996 the successor districts of Gwent were Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly (which absorbed Islwyn), Monmouthshire (principal area), Newport and Torfaen.

Research Tips

  • The National Library of Wales has just uploaded (Feb 2018) a website covering the tithe maps of Wales with accompanying apportionment documents using original and present-day maps. There are over 300,000 entries. Landowners and small villages are included. The presentation looks very good.
  • A 1900 Ordnance Survey map of the historic county of Monmouthshire is available on the A Vision of Britain through Time website. This shows all the old parishes within their urban and rural districts. Large farms and estates are also marked.
  • Some words in Welsh come up time and time again and you may want to know what they mean or how to pronounce them. For example,
    "Eglwys" is a church and the prefix "Llan" is a parish.
    "w" and "y" are used as vowels in Welsh.
    "Ll" is pronounced either "cl" or "hl" or somewhere in between. "dd" sounds like "th".
    The single letter "Y" is "the" and "Yn" means "in".
    "uwch" means "above"; "isod" is "below" or "under";
    "gwch" is "great", "ychydig" is "little";
    "cwm" is a "valley".
In both Welsh and English all these words are commonly used in place names in the UK. Place names are often hyphenated, or two words are combined into one. Entering your problem phrase into Google Search, including the term "meaning in Welsh", will lead you to Google's quick translation guide. I'm no authority; these are just things I have picked up while building up this gazetteer for WeRelate.
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Monmouthshire. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WeRelate, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.